We got rid of our Universal 5411 two years ago. The boat was definitely underpowered as subsequent models moved up in HP because of owner feedback probably. It was fine as long as as we carefully timed the tidal current, especially under the bay bridge.

We weren't sorry to see it go as we spent a few months of a summer at the dock waiting for enough people to need an exhaust manifold cast. Then the starter stopped working. Then the transmission.

Depending on where your friend is sailing and in how good a condition it was kept by the PO, he/she might want to anticipate having to replace it in the near future.

The good news about any Universal diesel is that it's really a Kubota and most parts can be had dirt cheap from a tractor shop. The only ones you can't get there are the exhaust manifold, bell housing, and transmission.
If 11 hp proves to be inadequate, it is possible to graft a larger Kubota, say 20 hp, onto the exsisting bell housing. Everything else should fit with little to no modification. Save the raw water pump from the old engine. A used 20 hp can be found for under $2000. You would still need to have an exhaust manifold made. Beats $6000 -$10,000 for a new engine of any brand.

We had one made. The year before the transmission crapped out and we threw in the towel completely.

I don't know how it happened, but the mechanic told us we had to wait until enough people around the country needed them so they could cast more than one. For some reason I remember the magic number was 12.

Dunno where these "people" were from or who "they" were but we had a new exhaust manifold in about three months.

Check for wobble in the raw-water-pump shaft.
That pump is a direct drive from a shaft internal to the engine. I had the seals go on a 23-year-old Universal M-12 diesel, and seawater got into the engine sump.
Not good.

Check for wobble in the raw-water-pump shaft.
That pump is a direct drive from a shaft internal to the engine. I had the seals go on a 23-year-old Universal M-12 diesel, and seawater got into the engine sump.
Not good.

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